Seesaw.



No. 796,364LA PATBNTED AUG. 1, 1905.

E. D. SMITH.

SEBSAW.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 22.1904.

EDWIN D. SMITH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEESAW.

ANo. 796,364.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application filed October 22, 1904. Serial No. 229.623.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN D. SMITH, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Seesaws, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in seesaws, the object being to provide a light, simple, and portable device of the character mentioned adapted more particularly for the entertainment and amusement of children; and it consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.

A represents a central post erected from a suitable base, which may be variously constructed, although preferably it consists of two members 1 and 2, the former being rigidly bolted between the two sections of the post by means of bolts 3 3 or their equivalents, and the other member 2 pivoted, by means of bolt 4, in the recess 5 of member 1, so that the lower surfaces of the two members are on the same horizontal plane and when folded member 2 occupies the recess 5, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, whereas when the seesaw is erected or inv use it is turned at right angles or transversely, as shown in full lines in the drawings, in which position. it is held by screws 6 6 or other means in the brackets 7 7. Vhen it is desired to fold the device for shipment or storage purposes, the screws 6 6 are removed and member 2 swung into position indicated by the dotted lines.

Between the two sections of the post A the three parallel bars 8, 9, and 10 are pivoted by means of bolts or equivalent devices 11 11. Seats 12 12 are provided with Shanks 13 13,

which are pivotally connected with the outer i ends of the parallel bars 9 and 10 by bolts or similar means 14 14, and on these seats or saddles 12 12 the persons using the seesaw are seated. Vertical bars 15 15 are pivotally connected to the parallel bars S, 9, and 10 by the bolts or equivalent devices 16 16, and at their upper ends these vertical bars are provided with handle-bars 17 17, while at their lower ends they have the foot-rests or steps 18 18, by means of which the seesaw is mounted and operated.

The seesaw is shown in the drawings adapted for persons of approximately the same weight. It would be possible to readjust it for two persons of varying weight by providmg several holes 19 19 in the parallel bars and shifting them lengthwise upon the post .by

simply removing the bolts and replacing them, or other means for accomplishing this might be provided.

The parts are preferably so arranged relatively that when either end of the seesaw is lowered the maximum amount the footrests or steps strike the upper surface of the base member 1 and the lowest parallel bar 10 engages the beveled end 20 of said member, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus preventing injury to the seesaw or its striking either the ground or floor, these portions of member 1 having the function of a stop .and serving to sustain the shock and weight when the first person gets on or the last one dismounts should they fail to do so simultaneously, which is sometimes the case.

The operation is easily understood from the illustrations and description. The persons seesawing when in the seats or saddles, as well as in mounting and dismou'nting, rest their feet upon the foot-rests with their hands upon the handle-bars. Then to operate the seesaw it is merely necessary for the two occupants to push and pull with both hands and feet, if desired, in opposition to each other.

This seesaw is simple, light, and an inexpensive article, which may be easily shifted from place to place, while at the same time affording much pleasure and amusement.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to without/departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

I-Iaving fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A seesaw comprising a suitable base, center support, and lazy-tongs which consists of parallel bars 8, 9 and 10, bar 8 being shorter than the rest, seat-Shanks pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the longer parallel bars 9 and 10, vertical bars pivoted to the three parallel bars and having handles on theirupper ends and foot-rests on their lower ends.

2. The combination with a post, of a base comprising two members, one of which is stationary and recessed along the Center portion and the foot-rests in position to simultand of its lower edge, and the other pivoted at its center beneath the post, and eapable of being swung in line with the stationary member.

3. The combination with a base, having beveled portions, and a post erected from the base, of a seesaw Comprising parallel bars pivoted to the post, vertical bars pivoted to the parallel bars, and having foot-rests at their lower ends, and seats carried by the parallel bars, the lowermost parallel bars Y ously engage the upper surface and beveled edge of the base when either end of the seesaw is depressed to the maximum point.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN D. SMITH. Witnesses:

W. A. HEMPHILL, J os. POEPPERT. 

